[Morphological parameters of the liver in rats during changes in nitric oxide content and deafferentation with...

The aim of this investigation was to study the morphological changes of rat liver during the blockade of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis and its increased content in the intact rats and after the damage of capsaicin-sensitive nerves. It was shown that the damage of capsaicin-sensitive nerves resulted in dystrophic and necrotic changes in the liver, associated with the inflammatory reaction. These changes were enhanced by the blockade of NO-synthase. NO deficiency, caused by NO-synthase blockade, lead to disturbances of vascular bed control, resulting in ischemia and hypoxia, and, as a consequence, in dystrophic and necrotic changes in hepatocytes. The data obtained indicate that in the development of dystrophic changes after the modification of the function of capsaicin-sensitive nerves, along with the decrease in the sensory neuropeptide content, the significant role is played by NO-dependent machanisms. Administration of NO precursor, L-arginine, after deafferentation with capsaicin, inhibited the inflammatory reactions in the liver.